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The provincial agency responsible for building Mississauga’s planned $1.4-billion light rail system up the city’s spine is allaying concerns that it might create problems similar to those in Edmonton, where an LRT is reportedly causing traffic nightmares.

“Metrolinx, along with the cities of Mississauga and Brampton, are closely studying best practices and lessons-learned from other jurisdictions in North America — including Edmonton — and around the world to minimize impacts to traffic both during construction, as well as when the LRT is operational,” wrote Metrolinx spokesperson Vanessa Barrasa, in an email to the Star.

This week, during a general committee meeting of council, Edmonton’s LRT was discussed by Mississauga councillors. A newspaper article on the agenda outlined online claims of drivers having to wait up to 15 minutes at intersections while the LRT passed. The National Post article described the Alberta capital as a “gridlocked nightmare of idling cars, trucks and city buses,” where the LRT often causes traffic backups.

“We’ll be looking at what went right and what went wrong (with Edmonton) and we need to spend considerable time on that,” Martin Powell, Mississauga’s commissioner of transportation and works, told councillors Wednesday.

City staff told the Star that Metrolinx would have to answer technical questions, such as the length of wait times on the LRT route. Asked about wait times at Mississauga intersections along the planned LRT route along Hurontario St., Metrolinx said those details are not yet known, but a preliminary design report has been prepared.

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“The report recognizes the unique characteristics of Hurontario Street including intersecting transit, municipal roads/highways and the need to ensure the introduction of an efficient, convenient and reliable LRT service to respond to future transportation demand and minimize the impacts on vehicular traffic,” Barrasa stated in her email.

Concerns have been raised about operating costs and about how much Mississauga might have to pay for local costs, beyond the $1.4 billion the province is providing.

“Metrolinx will own the infrastructure, vehicles and signalling system associated with the Hurontario LRT line,” Barrasa stated.

“Decisions about who will operate and maintain the LRT have not yet been made. As part of the project implementation, Metrolinx will work with both municipalities (Brampton currently has a very short portion of the LRT line, up to Steeles Ave., just north of the Mississauga border) to examine operating and maintenance options.”

Mayor Bonnie Crombie said she’s confident Edmonton’s LRT will be used as a case study to ensure that her city’s system, planned to be completed by 2020, will operate smoothly.

“Although I cannot speak directly about the Edmonton LRT initiative, I can tell you that Metrolinx identified Mississauga’s Hurontario LRT as a leading rapid transit priority for investment,” she stated in an email Thursday. “As with all projects, we look for best practices from cities around the globe. The Hurontario LRT will be no different and we will work to get it right in Mississauga.”

She said it’s imperative that people focus on the numerous benefits, such as significantly increased transit capacity.

“The LRT will transform how our world-class city moves, grows, and thrives. It is truly transformational for our City. This new integrated transit plan will create jobs, generate new economic development opportunities, and better position our local economy. The LRT will become the north-south spine of a regionally integrated transit system.”

“I’m of course enthusiastic that everything will be perfect, but we can’t stick our heads in the sand and wish it will be perfect. That's not going to save us from working out some inevitable bugs on a project this size,” he said Friday.

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